- James Kane and Kimberley Grant’s renovated Westport cottage is for sale at $335,000.
- The cottage, bought for $118,000, has tripled in value after extensive renovations.
- Property agent Jo Maketu highlights the area’s affordability and lifestyle as key attractions for buyers.
The derelict miner’s cottage James Kane and Kimberley Grant bought sight unseen four years ago for $118,000 is up for grabs again after an impressive renovation.
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The three-bedroom chocolate box cottage at 29 Rintoul Street, in Westport, Buller, has tripled in value, with Kane and Grant now looking for $335,000.
The couple had been living in Nelson when they picked up the cottage. They were expecting their first child and were moving to Buller to be closer to Grant’s family.
The modern kitchen has been lovingly renovated. Photo / Supplied
Kane, who has a background in the building industry, said the cottage was in an uninhabitable state when they bought it, so they moved into Grant’s sister’s garage for a few weeks before finding a rental. They finally moved in just before their second daughter was born about two years ago.
“It was full of floor-to-ceiling rubbish, and we were kind of expecting to find a body. But just looking at the structure, you could see it was a beautiful house.”
Kane said he spent every spare hour he had on the renovation. “Have I had a life? No. Was it worth it? I don’t know. But you’ve got to do it.”
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The overhaul of the cottage had even captured the interest of an older local woman who grew up in the house and now lived up the road. Kane said she had dreaded scootering past it when it was in a run-down state and was now pleased to see it restored to its former glory.
Kane said he had loved living in Westport and urged anyone considering a change of lifestyle to have a look.
“I’ve got plans to come back every summer. It’s the best place I’ve ever been in New Zealand for a summer. It’s amazing. The beaches, the no commutes, the no traffic lights, you’ve got the bush – you’ve got amazing friendly people who are willing to have a conversation. It’s like New Zealand the way it used to be.”
Houses were far more affordable, he said, and everything was easily accessible. “Everyone has these stresses these days of get a job, have to pay your mortgage and you struggle to get by. But what if your mortgage was only $300,000 and you were earning $80,000 or $90,000 – the same as in the city?”
The small cottage has attracted a lot of interest from first-home buyers including young couples, families and singe buyers. Photo / Supplied
Property Brokers agent Jo Makutu said more than half of the buyers she was working with were from out of town. Many were from Christchurch and the North Island. She just sold a house to a Kiwi couple living in Australia who bought the home after doing an online viewing.
“I think it’s the affordability, I think it’s the lifestyle and the fact we are not overcrowded. We are pretty spread out, we’ve a lot of greenery – it’s just really appealing.”
Makutu said the Rintoul Street cottage had attracted a lot of interest. The huge drawcard was that the property had been fully renovated.
“We sell a lot of munted properties that have a lot of potential. It’s quite nice when you get a nice cottage like that, that’s had all the work done. We do see a few of them, but it would be nice to see more.”
Jessie Creedmore, spokesperson for Promoting Buller, said Buller was probably New Zealand’s best-kept secret.
“It’s a misconception that it’s cold and wet here. In fact, Buller is very temperate and warm.”
Buller is only a short drive to Nelson-Tasman, an hour’s flight to Wellington and a five-hour drive through the Lewis Pass to Christchurch, but she said it actually had everything people needed.
“There’s shopping and dining. There’s about 50 different dining options across the whole of Buller.”
- 29 Rintoul Street, in Westport, Buller, is for sale for $335,000
